Pirelli: Lap records could be challenge

Pirelli believe new lap records could be setting this season after F1 picked up the pace in Australia.

Ahead of the new campaign, Pirelli predicted that engine development coupled with improved tyres could result in the cars being two seconds a lap quicker.

And that's what happened in Melbourne, only it was three seconds.

In 2014, the best time at the Albert Park circuit was a 1:29.375 set on the soft tyres in FP3. This season it was a 1:26.327, the time that secured pole position for Lewis Hamilton on the soft tyres.

Added to that, last year's fastest lap of the race was a 1:32.478 posted on the soft rubber while this year's was a 1:30.945, set on the slower medium tyres.

Pirelli motorsport director Paul Hembery said: "These figures underline what we expected to see following pre-season testing: a significant reduction in lap times, with cars that will only get faster as the year goes on.

"We could even see some new lap records on certain circuits.

"With this in mind, we have introduced evolutions to the rear structure of all our 2015 tyres this year, in order to give them greater capability in handling the extreme demands placed on them."